We say volunteering should remain just that, and that people shouldn’t be “made to volunteer” under threat of sanction.

The fight against workfare is more important than ever, with 74,000 people being sanctioned every month. Sanctions are one of the main reasons people are turning to food banks to feed themselves, and you can now be sanctioned for up to three years. This is forcing people to make the choice between heating their homes or eating.

Join us in a day of action against the YMCA’s use of workfare. Tell them what you think about them using forced unpaid work in their charity shops. Don’t let them ignore the devastating effect that sanctions are having on people up and down the country.

But please note: Whilst it’s well worth trying to speak to a manager or senior individual if possible please bear in mind most people taking calls/emails will be low paid retail/admin staff and could even be on workfare themselves. Be aware that is an offence to make telephone calls or send communications which are threatening, indecent or offensive.

Comments

Comments (9)

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Jeff

March 31st at 1:27pm

Well done to all concerned!

This must be one of the most hypocritical organisations in the country. From 2012:

"We believe that the minimum wage for apprentices is too low. Whilst we understand that in the current economic climate there needs to be a balance with the need to create new jobs, we are of the view that the rate could be increased slightly."

Does anyone know how much the Chief Executive makes for running a forced labour programme?

jj joop

March 31st at 1:33pm

Sock it to them!

jj joop

March 31st at 1:42pm

According to a report in today’s Daily Heil, Osborne is saying the Tories will be the party of job creation. He also added that Help to Work will force long-term unemployed people to do tasks to claim their dole from next month.

We shall see.

Stuart

March 31st at 2:39pm

Just called and spoke to somebody in the communications team: was told CWP placements weren't going to be accepted (and statement on Facebook); MWA matter for individual charity shops (that hoary old chestnut!)

Douglas 더글라스 Park 파크,

March 31st at 7:23pm

visions flash up and self-enact of parodies of a certain village people's hit (NOT in the navy!) and also the lating greating peter "sleazy" christopherson's punk era photos of the sex pistols (and maybe others?) in and around the centrepoint london ymca, as well as something about the bowery "bunker" where william s. buroughs, john giorno, linda benglis etc lived and worked....

Kay Mawson

April 1st at 9:37am

YMCA, please stop exploiting vunerable people under Workfare (another name for slavery).

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